The Line Between Fashion & Art

Every year, London’s Central Saint Martin hosts the BA Fashion Show, featuring collections from the year’s graduating designers. This year, Chinese designer Xiaoming Shan received special mention at the end of the show for creativity, making it the first time that a designer, aside from the winners, was given recognition in the speaker’s notes. Looking beyond Shan’s bold use of colors and shapes, deeper themes are present in his work, often based on his observations of modern times. “Everyday, you encounter different people, things, and events,” he says. “Even if you’re not consciously aware of it, they become catalysts for inspiration.” For Shan, finding creativity from his life experiences seems to come quite naturally.

Discussing some of the biggest changes he’s undergone since attending CSM, Shan shares: “I suppose it’s the way I view clothing. I feel like I’m slowly breaking away from this preconceived notion of what clothing can or can’t be, and it’s allowed me the freedom to pursue what feels right to me.” His eccentric and colorful designs are a clear departure from conventional fashion – it’s a visual representation of his understanding of pop culture, style, himself and his relationships. When viewing Shan’s work, perhaps we can temporarily set aside the idea of how certain things “should” be done and learn from how Shan creates what he wants to create.